ErikaMoen
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18th Century Pockets - Completed?
🕑 Added 2023-04-22 07:02:00 +0000 UTCWell, I finished them!
My 18th century pockets, I mean.
They’re ‘sposed to be worn like this ⬆️ underneath all the skirts and whatnot, with a slit in the outer layers to allow access to the pocket. (Above photo from the Thistle Thistle pattern)
My sewing group advised me to use bias tape to cover up the raw edges of my fabric, which were already fraying. They showed me how the funny folded ribbon-strip folds over the exposed edge of the fabric and is sewed down over it so that it won’t continue to fray from rubbing against things anymore
Having acquired my fabric (formerly a bedsheet) from the secondhand shop Goodwill for $6.99, I returned looking for bias tape there as well but their sewing shelf was uncharacteristically bare so I bussed out to SCRAP, the Creative Reuse center downtown. That’s where I found the exact perfect shade of blue to match my fabric print for less than a dollar. Amazing.
Ok, so long-story-short: I sewed the bias tape on the first pocket… uh. Well, I guess it wasn’t wrong, because the final result did have it folded over the fabric’s raw edge. But. I did it wrong- or, at least, I executed it in a significantly harder way than is necessary. I’d explain, but I just make it sound even more confusing when I try. Fortunately, I spent most of the last week out on the coast with my studio, Helioscope, and got to consult with a far more experienced sewer who showed me how you’re supposed to sew down bias tape.
So! Now I have two hand-stitched 18th century pockets that were mostly made out of secondhand supplies!
In hindsight, I shoulda kept to shorter stitches for the leaf embroideries, instead of the elegantly long satin stitches, since they get all loose and discombobulated when the fabric isn’t being pulled taut.
Safer Insect Killing Soap spray bottle for size comparison.
I’m also not super stoked on how rumply the pockets are when they’re just laying flat. But, on the other hand, they are supposed to be worn on a belt with objects weighing them down from inside, so the rumpliness won’t really be an issue. …Also, they’re going to be worn under multiple layers of skirts, so who’s even gunna see them anyway?
No one will know that I’m carrying Safer Insect Killing Soap among my underthings, but they will notice a considerable absence of Aphids and Spider Mites in my wake.
Comments
The Ferret
Hahaha, but you still did it! So hurray anyways n_n
Erika Moen
I’m aware they exist and interested in trying one out sometime! I like the idea of making my own rather than buying little plastic-wrapped packets of them 😒
Erika Moen
(Finger slipped) -out of my final bias tape stitching 😅
Erika Moen
I mean, to be fair, I still made a dog’s dinner out of my final bi
Erika Moen
Thank you!
Erika Moen
The most logical use for such deep and hidden pockets 🙌
Erika Moen
😂
Erika Moen
WHAT! Wow, that’s so cool to learn! Thank you for sharing.
Erika Moen
That’s good to know- Reddit both calls to me and scares me, so I do a little lurking (mostly AITA) and them scuttle away when it gets too negative 😅
Erika Moen
Oh my gosh, thank you for the helpful advice! I hadn’t even THOUGHT about cleaning them 😳
Hannah K
Also idk if it's already on your radar, but maybe for anyone wandering through the comments - there are bias tape makers that you feed fabric through and it makes the tape folds. Godspeed on folks' making/sewing journeys o7
Hannah K
I'm doing some novel writing and featuring this style of pocket has been crucial in my first 10K words. Pockets for everyone!
Hannah K
The crafting subreddits have in my experience been supremely less toxic than reddit at large, but ymmv, the internet is a wild place.
The Ferret
Ooh these turned out great! And hurray for experienced friends and bias tape n_n
Becky Fish
I think it's Abby Cox on YouTube who has placed a wine bottle in hers!
Mandy Wright
As someone who only really wears various forms of dresses, I've been tempted to make these! Yours turned out so cute!!!
Alenka Figa
I can't remember if I commented this before or just thought about it... there is an older YA series called His Fair Assassin about murder nuns and they always have knives and poisons in their pockets of this style
M Aidan
My favourite thing about giant historical pockets is that they are actually miniature! By which i mean, etymologically - a 'pocket' is technically a 'small poke', and a poke is a sack or bag, hence the antique expression of gullibility, "as like to buy a pig in a poke". (It also tickles me to imagine some old timey lady reaching into her skirt pocket and pulling out a piglet, just for laffs!! 😆)
Becky Fish
Looks awesome! Next time, try long and short stitch for the embroidery, it's designed for larger areas. Also, you might wanna join r/Embroidery and r/CrossStitch, they seem to be very helpful communities! If you want to clean your pockets while ensuring no damage, try RetroClean soak. It's Sodium perborate, and is pH neutral, so you can even use it on silks and lace! I use it to clean old embroideries (and new ones!) Just do a spot test to make sure the item is colorfast, which most modern embroidery threads are.
